FAQs

Wards are areas of a city or a district identified for electoral purposes. They work in the same way as seats in a general election.

In Hauraki we have a ward system where candidates stand in a ward area and people living in that area get to vote for them.

Our three election wards are: Waihī, Paeroa and Plains. People can only vote for candidates in their ward, but everyone gets to vote for who they want as Mayor.

Although candidates stand for their ward area, when voted on to Council, Councillors swear an oath to work for the district as a whole.

Māori ward(s) sit alongside general wards in a district. They allow voters on the Māori roll to elect a representative to their local council.

The aim of Māori wards is to ensure Māori are represented in local government decision making.

It’s important that the whole community is represented on Council. This ensures Councillors are able to make good decisions that accurately reflect the views and needs of the whole district.

The government recently changed the law so Councils can establish Māori wards in the same way as general wards. Our Council has viewed this as an opportunity to consider establishing Māori wards.

Āwhea te timatanga o tēnei kaupapa

Should Hauraki Māori decide to have Māori wards this will be included as part of the Representation Review in 2024 and will come into effect for the 2025 Local Election. The Review process determines how the Council is made up.

• People enrolled on the Māori electoral roll for the area can vote for candidates standing in their Māori ward.
• People on the Māori electoral roll can only vote for candidates from a Māori ward and the Mayor.
• People on the general electoral roll can only vote for candidates from a General ward and the Mayor.
• People are able to move to the Māori roll during the next Māori Electoral Option in 2024. Changing before mid-July will make sure you are on the Māori roll in time for the next local elections in 2025.

E hia ngā turu mō hauraki?

How many Māori wards our district will have, is decided by a formula in the Local Electoral Act 2001 (Schedule 1A-2) based on the ratio of Māori electoral population to the total electoral population.

Should Hauraki go ahead with Māori wards, it’s likely there may be two Māori wards (or two members within one district ward depending on a representation review) on Council, based on that formula.

To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony), and
• Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere in New Zealand); and
• Nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the ward a candidate is standing for. Candidates in Māori wards do not need to be of Māori descent, but they do need to be on the parliamentary electoral roll, either the general or the Māori roll.

The principles of partnership, participation and protection underpin the relationship between Council and Māori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Partnership involves working together with Iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to develop strategies and structure for Māori involvement in decision-making.

Participation requires Māori to be involved at all levels of the local government sector, including decision-making, planning, development and delivery of services.

Protection involves Council working to ensure Māori involvement in decision-making processes, and safeguarding Māori cultural concepts, values and practices.

Local Government, including Hauraki District Council, is legally obliged to provide an environment (through systems, structures, and services) that encourages and supports Māori to enter and participate in local governance processes.

The Local Government Act (LGA) and other legislation is how central government requires Councils to recognise and respect Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. This means local government acknowledges the unique perspective of Māori on decisions that relate to people, land, assets, and resources.

Specifically, the LGA requires Councils to provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to the decision-making process and consider ways to enhance Māori capacity to contribute to decision-making.

The Local Electoral Act requires Councils to enable fair and effective representation for individuals and communities. It is up to each council to choose the most appropriate and effective form of Māori representation for their population - taking into account the needs and preferences of their Māori partners and the wider community.

Simply, under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Local Government Act and other legislation, Councils are required to provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to decision-making processes, as well as other obligations. This is in recognition of Māori as tangata whenua (indigenous people) of Aotearoa New Zealand and the Crown’s partner in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.